He is back! Jack isn't home but his confusion is mostly gone. We put him back on the anti-depression drug and he is doing great!
He is sleeping well most nights and I don't get those scary phone calls in the night from the nursing home.
I have been eating lunch with him in the dining room and he is now going there on his own. Service and food is like a nice restaurant and quite a change from the tray in his room.
I am a much happier camper!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
confusion and falls
This has been a difficult week. Jack has fallen a number of times with many bruises, bumps, cuts, and more confusion.
I don't know yet what is causing the problems. I don't know who the strange man is who lives in my husband's body. I have spent many hours during the middle of the night at the nursing home.. Have had all kinds of calls and now I dread the phone ringing.
During a great thunder storm I was called out this week because they thought maybe Jack should go to the emergency room. He had fallen at 2 am the day before and they thought maybe he was more injured than they thought. The pains were all old ones and he just really wanted to see me... see how I have spoiled him!
Sometimes he is perfectly fine and a bit later he is totally confused and talking about things that even I have difficulty putting in context. We take him to the wound center tomorrow. The nursing facility will send someone with me to help...bless them!
Times are difficult.. I know I can't bring him home like this...yet that is his and my greatest wish. But I want him safe and secure until the doctor dismisses him.
I don't know yet what is causing the problems. I don't know who the strange man is who lives in my husband's body. I have spent many hours during the middle of the night at the nursing home.. Have had all kinds of calls and now I dread the phone ringing.
During a great thunder storm I was called out this week because they thought maybe Jack should go to the emergency room. He had fallen at 2 am the day before and they thought maybe he was more injured than they thought. The pains were all old ones and he just really wanted to see me... see how I have spoiled him!
Sometimes he is perfectly fine and a bit later he is totally confused and talking about things that even I have difficulty putting in context. We take him to the wound center tomorrow. The nursing facility will send someone with me to help...bless them!
Times are difficult.. I know I can't bring him home like this...yet that is his and my greatest wish. But I want him safe and secure until the doctor dismisses him.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Good days and horrible days
I don't know what happened last Wednesday but when I went to get Jack to go to the wound clinic, another person was in his body.
I have never seen Jack so totally "out of it" in the years he has been ill. He could not navigate his power chair without assistance and that made him cross and sometimes down right angry. His eating habits were awful and I was shocked at how he was eating by putting his biscuit in his oatmeal and the butter on top of the oatmeal bowl cover.
That was just the beginning. I had put off his bath, etc. until the morning and he was not able to help me much with all the dressing and things we had to do to get ready. At the clinic he responded so differently they asked him if he knew where he was and he did respond correctly. This really frightened me and we cut part of our morning short so I could get him back to the nursing facility.
We discussed at the facility what could be wrong and they had changed one med which they said was only a pill he took when needed but they thought they might help him through some discomfort if they gave it to him on a regular basis. I have no idea what was wrong. They said they would contact his doctor and perhaps Jack would be better the next day.
That evening he called me and seemed his old self. He caught me crying and asked me why and I said it was just because I missed him so much. That was true. I missed the real person and Jack himself. This house is cold and empty when I am here alone.
The next morning he was fine and mentioned the previous day a couple of times because he realized something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what it was. I took him out yesterday and he was fine and hasn't shown any of the same actions since. But this is scary and painful to see changes like this.
This was a change that I was not expecting and it has really made me see that he is in a safe place and I could not have handled him alone at home in his condition.
I am beginning to think there are NO GOLDEN YEARS!
I have never seen Jack so totally "out of it" in the years he has been ill. He could not navigate his power chair without assistance and that made him cross and sometimes down right angry. His eating habits were awful and I was shocked at how he was eating by putting his biscuit in his oatmeal and the butter on top of the oatmeal bowl cover.
That was just the beginning. I had put off his bath, etc. until the morning and he was not able to help me much with all the dressing and things we had to do to get ready. At the clinic he responded so differently they asked him if he knew where he was and he did respond correctly. This really frightened me and we cut part of our morning short so I could get him back to the nursing facility.
We discussed at the facility what could be wrong and they had changed one med which they said was only a pill he took when needed but they thought they might help him through some discomfort if they gave it to him on a regular basis. I have no idea what was wrong. They said they would contact his doctor and perhaps Jack would be better the next day.
That evening he called me and seemed his old self. He caught me crying and asked me why and I said it was just because I missed him so much. That was true. I missed the real person and Jack himself. This house is cold and empty when I am here alone.
The next morning he was fine and mentioned the previous day a couple of times because he realized something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what it was. I took him out yesterday and he was fine and hasn't shown any of the same actions since. But this is scary and painful to see changes like this.
This was a change that I was not expecting and it has really made me see that he is in a safe place and I could not have handled him alone at home in his condition.
I am beginning to think there are NO GOLDEN YEARS!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
SNOW
Those of you in the east often see this white stuff but we don't get so much that we aren't a bit in awe at the clean beauty of snow.
But the darn stuff is cold and then it melts with the sleet and it is slick!
Jack is celebrating one month in the slammer! Or that is how he feels sometimes. I just called and said I would wait until the roads were safe before I came up to see him and he said take care of myself that he was snug as a bug. I asked about snow there and he said he could not see since his windows were frosted over. He has an excellent view of the interior court of the facility. There are birds, cats, people and interesting happenings there.
The resident has a visiting dog. Actually he belongs to the owners and since they are both working there or at least not at home, the dog has picked out a resident with a nice big blanket covered chair and sometimes does an over nighter. Darlene the resident came to the facilitiy with a broken hip and a pronouncement from the doctor that she probably would not walk much again. Well, she not only has recovered with the excellent care and help of the facility but is now helping others there. She has not returned to her home. She hasn't told me but I suspect she gave it up as well as her dogs and other pets. Now the visiting canine is her special friend.
Yesterday we tried a new adventure and visited a local restaurant with a handcap accessible rating...ha ha ha ha! Well we did get in and of course I had to use the suppliment I carry for thresholds that are too high. The place is "SWEET THANGS". No I didn't misspell that word. And it is as rednecked as it sounds. But their coffee, hot tea, and pecan pie are not too bad! And it was an outing, adventure, and we were out when the first rains hit! It hit like a raging storm and you couldn't see across the road. We left when we finished our repast and the rain had let up.
The day before we went to the HOBBY LOBBY. A place where you could spend a day and not see everything. There were having 50% off sale and things looked good. We bought some plastic easter eggs to stuff..... I have now stuffed 10 dozen for our church's Easter Egg Hunt. Of course I have made Jack stuff eggs, too!
The roads seem to be clearing so I am off to rescue the prisoner of Snyder! lol
But the darn stuff is cold and then it melts with the sleet and it is slick!
Jack is celebrating one month in the slammer! Or that is how he feels sometimes. I just called and said I would wait until the roads were safe before I came up to see him and he said take care of myself that he was snug as a bug. I asked about snow there and he said he could not see since his windows were frosted over. He has an excellent view of the interior court of the facility. There are birds, cats, people and interesting happenings there.
The resident has a visiting dog. Actually he belongs to the owners and since they are both working there or at least not at home, the dog has picked out a resident with a nice big blanket covered chair and sometimes does an over nighter. Darlene the resident came to the facilitiy with a broken hip and a pronouncement from the doctor that she probably would not walk much again. Well, she not only has recovered with the excellent care and help of the facility but is now helping others there. She has not returned to her home. She hasn't told me but I suspect she gave it up as well as her dogs and other pets. Now the visiting canine is her special friend.
Yesterday we tried a new adventure and visited a local restaurant with a handcap accessible rating...ha ha ha ha! Well we did get in and of course I had to use the suppliment I carry for thresholds that are too high. The place is "SWEET THANGS". No I didn't misspell that word. And it is as rednecked as it sounds. But their coffee, hot tea, and pecan pie are not too bad! And it was an outing, adventure, and we were out when the first rains hit! It hit like a raging storm and you couldn't see across the road. We left when we finished our repast and the rain had let up.
The day before we went to the HOBBY LOBBY. A place where you could spend a day and not see everything. There were having 50% off sale and things looked good. We bought some plastic easter eggs to stuff..... I have now stuffed 10 dozen for our church's Easter Egg Hunt. Of course I have made Jack stuff eggs, too!
The roads seem to be clearing so I am off to rescue the prisoner of Snyder! lol
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Time passes.............
Tomorrow will be the first day of spring and Jack's third week at the nursing facility. He knows almost everyone there and their names, their kids' names, and all their life history! I am stretching that a bit but he has become well acquainted with many. He is like the father confessor and place to stop and chat. He has containers of sweets and anyone who has a sweet tooth can help themselves.
The staff have been very helpful. He became confused one night this week and ended up slipping out of his chair and onto the floor. He said three or four of the female staff grabbed him stood him up and put him right back in his chair. This man weighs 300 pounds and that was no small task. At home I would have had to call out emergency personnel.
We went to the wound clinic and took the "ride along" neighbor to drive. She was well compensated with $ as well as a good lunch at the Santa Fe Cattle Company Steak House. This restaurant has been so accommodating. Of course we try to plan our arrivals at a not quite as busy time if possible but the staff are quick to find a place where Jack is comfortable. And the food is really great. We have had opportunity to try a variety of the offerings on the menu.
Today we are going for a consultation with a surgeon for a fatty cyst. How big and how deep to see how to take it off of Jack's posterior. This will be the next big thing we have to do.
I took Jack a fan yesterday evening because it had turned so warm and his room had a breeze but a hot one. The fan did help as well as a cold drink and a pleasant visit! lol
Must begin the day, the list is long and and there is much to accomplish. When I am at home the phone rings and then the doorbell rings. I may be to go somewhere else to rest.
The staff have been very helpful. He became confused one night this week and ended up slipping out of his chair and onto the floor. He said three or four of the female staff grabbed him stood him up and put him right back in his chair. This man weighs 300 pounds and that was no small task. At home I would have had to call out emergency personnel.
We went to the wound clinic and took the "ride along" neighbor to drive. She was well compensated with $ as well as a good lunch at the Santa Fe Cattle Company Steak House. This restaurant has been so accommodating. Of course we try to plan our arrivals at a not quite as busy time if possible but the staff are quick to find a place where Jack is comfortable. And the food is really great. We have had opportunity to try a variety of the offerings on the menu.
Today we are going for a consultation with a surgeon for a fatty cyst. How big and how deep to see how to take it off of Jack's posterior. This will be the next big thing we have to do.
I took Jack a fan yesterday evening because it had turned so warm and his room had a breeze but a hot one. The fan did help as well as a cold drink and a pleasant visit! lol
Must begin the day, the list is long and and there is much to accomplish. When I am at home the phone rings and then the doorbell rings. I may be to go somewhere else to rest.
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